Battle on for space in Shed

The fight for creative use of the Cargo Shed is on as the Tauranga City Council asks prospective leaseholders to prove themselves.

Creative Tauranga and former stallholders have clashed over the facility and are now being asked to present their proposals for its future management at a city council projects and monitoring committee meeting.

Creative Tauranga, which currently manages the art space on Dive Crescent, issued notices to stallholders in January advising them they needed to be out of the building by today.

The organisation's chief executive, Tracey Rudduck-Gudsell, said the request was made so management could develop a new plan to modernise the building, following community feedback. But it resulted in clashes between some stallholders upset at the eviction and those keen to see things modernised.

Mrs Rudduck-Gudsell said the space was not being used effectively and stallholders had to vacate while the organisation looked at a new model for the area.

They were welcome to take part in the new model if they chose to.

Stallholder Emma Walsh, of Flux Coffee, said it would be good to see more variety in the shed.

The proposals are expected to align with the Cargo Shed purpose - to provide a creative arts venue open to the public.

The term of a new lease agreement will be for 12 months from July 1, 2013.

Presenters will each be given 10 minutes to outline their proposal.

They have been asked to provide information about the types of activities that would operate in the Cargo Shed, the types of experiences the public would have, audiences they expect to attract, opening hours, assistance required, and promotion of the venue.

The council committee will consider the issue of the preferred leaseholder for the Cargo Shed on June 10.